Discussion: Middle Finals
in: World Masters Orienteering Championships 2018 (Jul 6–13, 2018 - Farum, Capital Region of Denmark, DK)
Jul 10, 2018 2:43 PM
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There was flaky data at the venue, even for the organizers (they were on an honor system for cafeteria food because no credit card link) so the live results are funky. Sharon took notes which we will share if there are no official results by 19.00-ish CEDT. There was also a monster traffic jam in both directions, an hour-plus incoming at its peak, but few people missed their starts... by this age, I guess, one is wise enough to interpret the organizers' "narrow forest road" as "leave home two hours early"... the organizers were liberal with new start times.
Jul 10, 2018 7:10 PM
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Sharon and Jeff (coach) made the Middle A final. There may be others...I've only checked a few names.
Start lists are posted on the Eventor site...
https://eventor.orienteering.org/Events/StartList?...
Start lists are posted on the Eventor site...
https://eventor.orienteering.org/Events/StartList?...
Jul 10, 2018 7:48 PM
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The results I saw had Sam in 2nd by a few seconds in her heat--to the same person she tied with in the Sprint Final. Should make for a very interesting Middle Final!
It also looks as if Vladimir made the A final in M45, without a lot of room to spare. Excellent strategic planning, wasting near minimal energy to achieve that goal!
It also looks as if Vladimir made the A final in M45, without a lot of room to spare. Excellent strategic planning, wasting near minimal energy to achieve that goal!
Jul 10, 2018 8:06 PM
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The live results were unreliable today (and will be tomorrow) due to poor cell coverage at the arena. Official results are up now. Sam (2nd) and I (24th) are through to the A final in W35, and Jeff squeaked into his A final in 16th. Sharon (2nd) is very safely into the A final in W70.
Today’s qual counts directly for the middle final tomorrow. After tomorrow’s race there will be some shuffling between finals, with some people moving up and others moving down for the long final. Those of us near the beginning of the start list still have more fighting to do in order to compete in A again on Friday!
Today’s qual counts directly for the middle final tomorrow. After tomorrow’s race there will be some shuffling between finals, with some people moving up and others moving down for the long final. Those of us near the beginning of the start list still have more fighting to do in order to compete in A again on Friday!
Jul 10, 2018 8:19 PM
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Nine U.S. runners qualified for the A Finals in the Middle Distance, consistent with Sharon's notes. This is the first time the Middle discipline is contested at the WMOC. Maricel Olaru, Vladimir Gusiatnikov, Gregory Balter, Sergey Velichko, Jeffrey Saeger, Samantha Saeger, Cristina Luis, Marie-Josée Parayre, and Sharon Crawford. Samantha and Sharon again have the best chances at medals.
Jul 10, 2018 8:30 PM
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Eldersmith, I had 1 minute 27 seconds to run a few circles around a tree, take a toilet break, or smoke a joint... clearly some further optimization can be performed on the algorithm!
Jul 11, 2018 4:24 PM
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Yes indeed, a medal again for the USA, this time a silver for Sharon Crawford!
Unfortunately the U.S. contingent did not fare particularly well in the new promotion/relegation scheme introduced by the IOF at the WMOC this year. Under the scheme the bottom 25% of the finishers in the A Finals in the Middle Distance are replaced in the Long Final by runners from lower heats. In the absolute majority of the cases, these lower-Final runners have effectively been beaten by the relegated runners twice; first in the Forest Qualification and then in the Middle Final, yet these twice-beaten runners get to run in the Long A Final and the suckers don't. (Of course the A and B Final courses in the Middle were different, but the comparison of min/km times of, say, the 65th A Final runner and the 16th B Final finisher who effectively replaces her shows a clear advantage for the former in all age and gender categories I checked.)
So, relegated were (according to the best of my understanding) Vladimir Gusiatnikov, Sergey Velichko, Jeffrey Saeger, Cristina Luis, and Marie-Josée Parayre. And Tom Hollowell, Glen Tryson, and Antonina Kuzmis were promoted, leaving the U.S. with seven starters in the Long A Final, which is on Friday. Again, this is to the best of my understanding of the new IOF rules.
Gregory Balter, Samantha Saeger, and Sharon Crawford are the only U.S. runners who made all three A Finals in the three disciplines.
Unfortunately the U.S. contingent did not fare particularly well in the new promotion/relegation scheme introduced by the IOF at the WMOC this year. Under the scheme the bottom 25% of the finishers in the A Finals in the Middle Distance are replaced in the Long Final by runners from lower heats. In the absolute majority of the cases, these lower-Final runners have effectively been beaten by the relegated runners twice; first in the Forest Qualification and then in the Middle Final, yet these twice-beaten runners get to run in the Long A Final and the suckers don't. (Of course the A and B Final courses in the Middle were different, but the comparison of min/km times of, say, the 65th A Final runner and the 16th B Final finisher who effectively replaces her shows a clear advantage for the former in all age and gender categories I checked.)
So, relegated were (according to the best of my understanding) Vladimir Gusiatnikov, Sergey Velichko, Jeffrey Saeger, Cristina Luis, and Marie-Josée Parayre. And Tom Hollowell, Glen Tryson, and Antonina Kuzmis were promoted, leaving the U.S. with seven starters in the Long A Final, which is on Friday. Again, this is to the best of my understanding of the new IOF rules.
Gregory Balter, Samantha Saeger, and Sharon Crawford are the only U.S. runners who made all three A Finals in the three disciplines.
Jul 11, 2018 5:30 PM
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Those are some tough categories!
How good was Mr. Greg Balter in his prime? Peak Balter?
How good was Mr. Greg Balter in his prime? Peak Balter?
Jul 16, 2018 8:12 PM
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I am slowly getting to my prime form, planning to win M100+ in 45 years from now ;)
This discussion thread is closed.